Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Thai Spa Book: The Natural Asian Way to Health and Beauty
    Thai Spa Book: The Natural Asian Way to Health and Beauty
    Thai Spa Book: The Natural Asian Way to Health and Beauty
    Ebook260 pages1 hour

    Thai Spa Book: The Natural Asian Way to Health and Beauty

    By Chami Jotisalikorn and Luca Invernizzi Tettoni

    4.5/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Based on traditional Thai herbal lore, the secrets of this country's ancient healing therapies, are offered for the first time in this Thai guide to health and beauty.

    Feel-good therapies and natural healing are the lifestyle mantras of the new millennium. Asia leads the way in the back-to-nature market, reviving many of its ancient techniques and treatments that have been handed down form one generation of women to the next.

    Thai Spa Book focuses specifically on stress-busting therapies from Thailand, running the gamut from the many types of Thai massage and meditation, to full beauty treatments, facials, relaxing baths and scrubs, healthy tonics and much more. These therapies are offered with recipes or instructions, or both, which are easy to follow. practical tips are given to recreate these health and beauty recipes at home, and specific treatments are outlined for specific ailments. All are designed to soothe, nurture and calm.

    With superb, full-color photography using many of Thailand's top supermodels, the book was shot entirely on location in some of Thailand's super-delux spas.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPeriplus Editions
    Release dateOct 16, 2012
    ISBN9781462908394
    Thai Spa Book: The Natural Asian Way to Health and Beauty

    Read more from Chami Jotisalikorn

    Related to Thai Spa Book

    Related ebooks

    Self-Improvement For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      DESTRESS THE Natural Way

      Dec 23, 2019

      DESTRESS THE Natural Way
      3 min read

    • Article

      Pigmentation Problems

      Mar 29, 2020

      Pigmentation Problems
      1 min read

    • Article

      TIME for YOU

      Jan 2, 2020

      TIME for YOU
      4 min read

    • Article

      Glass Skin

      Dec 9, 2018

      Glass Skin
      2 min read

    • Article

      A-z Of Skincare

      May 1, 2019

      A-z Of Skincare
      4 min read

    • Article

      20 Best Spas From Around The World

      Sep 9, 2019

      20 Best Spas From Around The World
      8 min read

    • Article

      Soap Story

      Mar 30, 2020

      Soap Story
      4 min read

    • Article

      All Hail Hemp

      Jun 30, 2021

      All Hail Hemp
      4 min read

    • Article

      Korean BEAUTY Kraze

      Nov 13, 2019

      Korean BEAUTY Kraze
      2 min read

    • Article

      The Homegrown Beauty Edit

      Nov 11, 2020

      The Homegrown Beauty Edit
      13 min read

    • Article

      Skincare That’s Uniquely Yours

      Apr 24, 2019

      Tired of taking a trial-and-error approach with skincare products, only to find that they don’t work for you? Since no two persons are completely alike, it makes sense that your skincare products should be specially tailored for you. Enter alche{me},

      2 min read

    • Article

      A Good Dose Of Salts

      Dec 11, 2019

      A Good Dose Of Salts
      7 min read

    • Article

      The Oils Have It

      Apr 28, 2020

      The Oils Have It
      7 min read

    • Article

      ‘It’s Not About Toxins Or Blood Flow!’

      Nov 5, 2020

      In your view, how does massage work? My approach is very evidence-based, and I understand that the research into massage is pretty minimal. As a massage therapist, I’m not trying to fix someone; my job is to explain and use a hands-on approach to inf

      2 min read

    • Article

      Let’s Get Physical

      May 5, 2020

      Let’s Get Physical
      5 min read

    • Article

      Waterless Beauty

      Aug 6, 2019

      Waterless Beauty
      3 min read

    • Article

      Do You Need A FACE GYM?

      Feb 20, 2020

      Do You Need A FACE GYM?
      3 min read

    • Article

      Know Your Skin Cycle

      Mar 3, 2020

      Know Your Skin Cycle
      5 min read

    • Article

      When Science Meets Skincare

      Feb 10, 2021

      When Science Meets Skincare
      6 min read

    • Article

      On The Fashion Radar

      Jun 2, 2021

      On The Fashion Radar
      2 min read

    • Article

      The Anti-ageing Awards

      Jun 30, 2019

      The Anti-ageing Awards
      8 min read

    • Article

      Healing Through History

      Jan 9, 2020

      Healing Through History
      6 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Thai Spa Book

    4.5/5

    2 ratings1 review

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Thai Spa is the best spa in the world. I love ThaI Spa.

    Book preview

    Thai Spa Book - Chami Jotisalikorn

    Thai Spa Book

    The Natural Asian Way to Health and Beauty

    Chami Jotisalikorn

    photos by Luca Invernizzi Tettoni

    Published by Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd

    Copyright © 2002 Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd Photographs © 2002 Luca Invernizzi Tettoni, with the exception of pages 2/3, 72, 75 where photos are by Luca Tettoni but © Devarana Spa; and p126 (top right) by Jock Montgomery © Tamarind Retreat

    All rights reserved,

    No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission of the publisher.

    ISBN: 978-1-4629-0839-4 (ebook)

    Printed in Singapore

    Creative Director: Christina Ong

    Editor: Kim Inglis

    Designer: Felicia Wong

    Stylist: Rai von Bueren

    Distributed by:

    North America, Latin America & Europe

    Tuttle Publishing 364 Innovation Drive,

    North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436, USA.

    Tel (802) 773 8930; fax (802) 773 6993

    Email: info@tuttlepublishing.com

    Asia Pacific

    Berkeley Books Pte Ltd 61 Tai Seng Avenue,

    #02-12 Singapore 534167.

    Tel (65) 6280 3320; fax (65) 6280 6290

    Email: inquiries@periplus.com.sg

    Japan

    Tuttle Publishing Yaekari Building, 3rd Floor,

    5-4-12 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0032, Japan.

    Tel (813) 5437 0171; fax (813) 5437 0755

    Email: tuttie-sales@gol.com

    contents

    the thai spa experience

    Thailand is the first choice retreat for well-travelled sybarites looking for stress-relief pampering—with silky smooth beaches and mouth-watering cuisine to boot. Everyone's heard of Thailand's famous spas, and the lucky ones have experienced their rejuvenating treatments, but what few realise is that the enticing menus at today's spas are formulated from ancient herbal healing traditions that have deep roots in Thai culture. Thai massage, for example, migrated from India with Buddhist monks and Brahmins in the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC; and the herbal heat compresses and Thai herbal steam are derived from folk medicine and ancient midwifery techniques.

    The relaxing benefits of such blissful treatments are well known. But other than feeling fabulously indulged in the gentle hands of a soft-spoken Thai spa therapist, do these massages and herbal beauty therapies have real healing properties?

    Elegant lines at the Lanna Spa, Regent Chiangmai Resort.

    Teakwood pavilions come aglow when twilight falls at the Aman Spa, Amanpuri resort, Phuket.

    Turmeric paste is cherished by Thais for its skin healing properties (above) while toning mask of cucumber (right) cools and revives.

    The answer is a resounding 'yes'! The tradition of herbal healing in Thailand dates back for centuries; historical evidence suggests that the Thais practised an integrated system of medicine incorporating the Indian Ayurvedic system with Chinese practices, mixed with deep-rooted folk beliefs in the supernatural, mystical and astrological. The core philosophies of Thai medicine revolve around the balance among the four basic elements—earth, water, wind and fire—which comprise the essence of life, and appear as recurrent themes in many modern day spas.

    Traditional massage and herbal remedies have cured the ailments of generations of Thais—that's why they're still in use today And even if some scientists scoff at such techniques, says herbal therapist and owner of the Thai Herbal Spa, Khun Komon Chitprasert: Once you experience the healing abilities yourself, your beliefs change.

    while toning mask of cucumber cools and revives.

    The Bodhi tree is a spiritual decor motif at the Lanna Spa.

    An outdoor treatment fanned by cooling sea breezes at the Aman Spa.

    In recent years, Thai traditional healing has experienced a revival, in part due to the efforts of Khun Pennapa Sapcharoen at the Institute of Thai Traditional Medicine; as a result, an interesting trend is the emergence of innovative new therapies based on ancient lore. For example, Bangkok's Nakriya House of Health and Beauty offers a unique fat and cellulite-reducing herbal bath and massage invented by owner Khun Shelida Buranasiri, derived from ancient midwifery practice. Don't expect incense and candles, she warns, my particular treatment is not about pampering, it's healing.

    Her statement sums up the fundamental aspect of the Thai spa. The candles, flowers and luscious surroundings add to the sensory delights—but at the core of the best Thai spas is the Thai healing tradition, a special element offering the benefits of a glowing complexion, renewed energy and a feel-good factor, inside and out.

    fragrant herbal healing

    Don't overlook the techniques of ancient remedies... the healing power of herbs and plants is far deeper and greater than what you only see on the surface.

    —Khun Komon Chitprasert, traditional herbal therapist and owner of Thai Herbal Spa

    thai herbal

    Traditional herbal remedies were once the secret domain of monks, local herbal healers and midwives. Because few people received a formal education in ancient times, healing traditions were passed down orally through generations within families. Very few records of healing knowledge exist; the ones that do are inscribed on manuscripts known as samut khoi, made of the same type of parchment used to record Buddhist scriptures.

    Because much ancient medical knowledge came to Thailand from India through Buddhist monks, temples became the centres of learning with religious texts and manuscripts housed in special libraries. That is how monks gained a reputation as healers. There also existed a strong tradition of local folk medicine and herbal lore that involved animism, spirituality and astrology. Because monks themselves were folk people, some practices of folk medicine were incorporated into temple teachings. But as the vows of monkhood prohibited physical contact with women, midwives were trained in herbal medicine that specifically addressed issues of childbirth.

    Local folk medicine contained elements of animism, such as the belief in the powers of rocks and stones for energy, and shamanism, with the concoction of medicines accompanied by chants and blessings. Midwifery was also concerned with the spiritual. An important element in midwifery was the belief that the midwife's role was to help prepare the spiritual path for the new baby that was about to enter the world. This was done by creating a state of Utopia in the mind, body and spirit for the mother, through the practice of herbal cleansing rituals and massages.

    Turmeric has long been used by Thais as a powerful skin soothing facial cosmetic. Fresh turmeric can irritate sensitive skins, so often a dried, powdered form is used in facial treatments.

    Yaa mong, or tiger balm, is a popular all-purpose remedy for insect bites, itchiness, rashes and skin irritations, and can come in herbal formulas such as this one.

    Ancient Thai healing secrets were documented on parchment called samut khoi. This manuscript, in a northern Thai tribal dialect, describes herbal ingredients and remedies, as well as mystic beliefs and superstitions concerning the practice of traditional healing.

    There are many traditional beliefs governing the practice of herbal medicine, such as the regulation of the times and places for the collection of herbal ingredients. It is known that evening flowers such as jasmine and ylang-ylang are best collected at night, when their powers are most potent. Healers are required to perform certain chants while picking herbs; they ask forgiveness from mother earth, or Phra Mae Toranee, and receive her permission to gather the plants. The chants are accompanied by the lighting of incense. The chants imbue the ingredients with greater healing powers than if you buy them from the market, says herbal therapist and owner of the Thai Herbal Spa in Bangkok, Khun Komon Chitprasert, who comes from a long line of healers from Phitsanulok in northern Thailand.

    It is also said that certain plants must come from certain locations, due to the type and quality of soil. The soil for the tong pan chang plant, whose bark and flowers are used to treat internal injuries, is best in Sukhothai so the most effective ingredients are known to come from there. The time and date of plucking herbs is also crucial—at full moon is best because the energies of earth, moon and sun are at their most powerfull then.

    Thai herbs are

    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1